Collating machine feeding into or out of racks

ABSTRACT

A horizontal elongated framework carries a plurality of transverse, inclined, parallel, paper-supporting racks. A conveying system on the machine, including a belt, transports sheets of paper emerging from a reproduction apparatus into predetermined ones of the racks. After the desired number of sheets have been placed in the racks in the appropriate sequence, various adjustments are made to the machine, including reversal of belt movement, enabling the machine to collate the sheets of paper previously assembled in the racks. The collating mechanism includes structure enabling the operator to adapt the machine to varying paper sizes, textures and weights.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Ernest D. Bassett Box 545, Santa Barbara, Calif. 03102 [2|] Appl. No. 795,153 [22] Filed Jan. 30, 1969 [45] Patented May 25, l971 [54] COLLATING MACHINE FEEDING INTO 0R OUT OF RACKS 3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 270/58, 271/64 [51] Int. Cl B65h 39/02 [50] Field of Search 270/58; 271/64 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,108,797 101i 963 Mestre 270/58 3,173,680 3/1965 Pezoppy 3.l93,278 7/1965 Ullberg ABSTRACT: A horizontal elongated framework carries a plurality of transverse, inclined, parallel, paper-supporting racks. A conveying system on the machine, including a belt, transports sheets of paper emerging from a reproduction apparatus into predetennined ones of the racks. After the desired number of sheets have been placed in the racks in the appropriate sequence, various adjustments are made to the machine, including reversal of belt movement, enabling the machine to collate the sheets of paper previously assembled in the racks. The collating mechanism includes structure enabling the operator to adapt the machine to varying paper sizes, textures and weights.

Patented May 25, 1971 3,580,563

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M2 WM COLLATING MACHINE FEEDING INTO R OUT OF RACKS The invention relates to improvements in machines for assembling and collating sheets of printed matter and the like.

Heretofore, mechanical collators have been only moderately successful in handling a variety of paper textures and weights. Owing to the structure and manner of operation of the paper-engaging elements previously used, together with an inability to adjust to differing paper characteristics and changes in relative humidity, as well as susceptibility to the effects of static electricity, and the like, the operation of such machines has been accompanied by misses and doubles. By this is meant the occasional tendency for one or more sheets to be skipped in the collation process or, on the other hand, for more than one identical sheet to be picked up. In these circumstances, wastage becomes a factor of importance; and where performance is highly erratic, costly shutdowns and repairs are often involved.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a collator which is not only efficient, in the sense that the operation is highly reliable, but which is also versatile and flexible in operation owing to its ability to be adjusted so as to cope with a wide range of paper characteristics and atmospheric conditions.

It is another object of the invention to provide a collating machine which can also be adjusted to assemble stacks of printed matter on the machine in a predetermined location, quantity and sequence, preparatory to collation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a collating machine which is relatively economical, yet which is rugged, durable, long-lived and quiet in operation.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an assembling and collating machine which can readily be adapted for use with conventional duplicating, copying and other reproducing machines, as well as with stitchers, staplers and other related apparatus.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine which is compact in size yet which affords a high output.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a paper assembling and collating apparatus, the operation of which can readily be learned even by unskilled personnel.

It is another object of the invention to provide a generally improved assembling and collating machine,

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment described in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a substantially median, vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of the after end portion of the machine;

FIG. 1B is a view comparable to FIG. 1A, but showing the forward end of the machine, a portion of the paper input conveyor being broken away to reduce the extent of the FIG.;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, transverse section view, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 in FIG. 18;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the after end of the machine, showing various possible positions of the paper-engaging members;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of the paper rack and tray structure, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of a paper-engaging member, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, transverse, sectional view taken on the compound planes illustrated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, median, vertical, sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of the forward end of the machine for use in the paper assembling operation;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, median, vertical, sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of the paper-supporting and paper-engaging members, showing in diagrammatic fashion, the relative locations of the elements for different paper pressure settings; and,

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, to an enlarged scale, of the mechanism for adjusting the paper-engaging members to various pressure settings.

While the apparatus of the invention is susceptible of numerous physical embodiments, depending upon the environment and requirements of use, substantial numbers of the herein shown and described embodiment have been made, tested and used, and all have performed in an eminently satisfactory manner.

The paper assembling and collating machine of the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 12, comprises a horizontally elongated framework 13 formed of conventional channel and angle iron members defining a forward end portion 14, an after end portion 15, a top 16, a bottom 17 and a pair ofsides 18 and 19 (see FIG. 6).

In the first mode of operation, viz., as a paper-assembling machine, printed paper sheets emerging from a duplicator, co

pier or other form of reproduction device (not shown) are transported by a belt conveyor 21 bounded by side walls 22. As appears most clearly in FIG. 7, a sheet of paper from a reproduction machine (not shown) is carried rearwardly by the belt 21, being propelled in the direction indicated by the arrow 23 into engagement with the lower run 24 of two pairs of spaced, parallel endless belts 26 trained around forward pulleys 27 and after pulleys 28 (see FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2). The live pulleys 28 on a common shaft 28a are driven by an electric motor 29 through a conventional gear reducer 31, chain 32 and sprocket 33 (see FIG. 1A). A reversing switch 34 enables the operator to run the belts 26 in either a fore or aft direction. While the belts shown are of circular cross section, they could also be V-shape or of the flat, web variety.

For convenience, the entire paper propelling structure comprising the belts 26, the pulleys 27 and 28, the pulley shafts 27a and 28a, the journal bearings 27b and 28b, the belt drive mechanism 29 and the longitudinal frame members 36 are hingeably mounted as by a suitable hinge 37 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) mounted on a subjacent one of the top, longitudinal angle iron members 38 of the machine framework. This pivot construction enables the operator to swing the entire structure, termed a paper propulsion mechanism 39, upwardly and out of the way for inspection, repair or hand-loading of the paper racks.

Also included as an important part of the paper propelling structure is a plurality of aligned pairs of transverse parallel rollers 41 (see FIGS. 1A and 6) on shafts 42 carried in journals 43 suspended from the angle irons 36. The rollers engage the top of the lower belt run 24 and help to guide the belt.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 7, the bottom run 24 of the belt 26 is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow 44 when machine is operating in the paper marshaling, or paper assembling, mode. In this mode, a plurality of identical sheets run off in the reproduction machine is carried up the conveyor belt 21, and directed against the underside of the belt 24, being thereby carried rearwardly in the direction of the arrow 44 until deflected downwardly into an appropriate bin chamber, such as the chamber 50 (see FIG. 7) defined by a forward, paper-supporting rack 51 and an after paper-supporting rack 52. The first batch of identical sheets settles by gravity onto the rack 51 and forms a stack 61, as appears in FIG. 7.

After the first stack 61 is completed, a first deflector member 71, pivotally mounted on a pivot 71a, is moved into the generally horizontal position shown in FIG. 7.

Concurrently, a second deflector member 72, pivotally mounted on the pivot 72a, is rotated from the horizontal in a clockwise direction about 35 to assume the generally vertical attitude shown in FIG. 7.

As will be noted, each of the deflector plates 7176, for example, deflector plate 72, includes a gently arcuate lower portion 721: (see FIG. 7) and an upper projected portion sharply recurved at its upper tip 72c to form a top portion 72d. The top portion 72d includes an elevated portion mounted on the pivot 720.

In one attitude, as shown in FIG. 7, the deflector member can assume the roughly horizontal position of the member 71, for example, wherein the recurved top portion 71d is spaced very slightly below and approximately parallel to the lower run 24 of the belt. In this attitude, the paper sheets are in frictional engagement with, and are propelled by the belt run 24 as they skim over the top of the substantially horizontal portion 71d, and pass between the top portion and the lower belt run 24.

Cooperating with the belt guiding rollers 41 on the upper side of the lower beltirun 24 is a plurality of lower guide rollers 40 on transverse shafts 46 journaled in bearings 47 (see FIG. 2).

Upon reaching the upwardly projecting portion 720 extending above the belt run 24, as is the case in deflector plate 72 (see FIG. 7), the sheet is intercepted and is guided downwardly, in the direction of the arrow 70, onto the subjacent paper-supporting rack 52.

After the requisite number of sheets is stacked on the rack 52, the upturned deflector member 72 is returned to the attitude of the lowered member 71 in FIG. 7, and the next rearward deflector member 73 is thereupon tilted upwardly to intercept and direct downwardly onto the rack 53, the next batch of printed pages from the duplicator.

The foregoing sequence is carried out until all of the stacks of paper 61-66 are deposited on their respective racks 51- 56. At this juncture, the conveyor belt 21 leading from the reproduction apparatus to the paper propelling mechanism is no longer necessary, and in order to convert the paper assembling machine to a collator, only a relatively few adjustments are required. These adjustments will now be described.

One adjustment is the counterclockwise tilting (see FIGS. 7 and 1B) of the guide plate 30, about its pivot 46, from the substantially horizontal attitude shown in FIG. 7 to the rearwardupward inclination illustrated in FIG. 18. In this latter inclined attitude the guide plate 30 is in a position to intercept and deflect forwardly moving papers in the downward direction indicated by the arrow 35 (see FIG. 1B). In other words, paper moving in a left-hand direction, as appears in FIG. 1B, is intercepted by the guide plate 30 and is directed downwardly and forwardly into the inclined catch bin 45 suspended from a crosspin 48 carried by a pair of hooks 49 depending from the fore and aft members 38 of the framework. The papers guided into the catch bin 45 are in collated form, as will shortly be described in detail, and are collectively given the reference numeral 60 (see FIG. 18).

Next, the operator will check to see that all of the deflector members 71-76 are in a lowered, or retracted, attitude and that the corresponding wingnuts 7Ie-76e (see FIGS. 3 and 6) on the ends of their respective pivot shafts 71a-76a are all tightened so that the deflectors are firmly secured in their down position.

Then, as a next step, the reversing switch 34 is actuated so as to reverse the motor 29 and thereby reverse the'direction of movement of the lower run 24 of the belt 26. After reversal, the lower belt run will travel in a forward direction, i.e. from right to left as appears in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3, 7 and 8.

With the paper propelling belt 26 thus adjusted, together with the deflector members 71-76 in the lowered position shown for example in FIG. 1A, and with the guide plate 30 in the upwardly tilted attitude shown in FIG. 1B, the machine is substantially in condition to commence the collating phase, or mode, of operation.

In order to start the collating operation, a plurality of paperengaging members, designated by the reference numerals 81- 86, are properly positioned and actuated (see FIG. 3).

It is also necessary to locate the individual inclined stacks of paper so that the upper margin of each stack is at a predetermined, uniform position, this being at a distance, for example, of approximately one-half inch below the top edge of the paper racks 51-56, the proper location being conveniently indicated by a suitable indicia, or bench mark, such as a red line.

Where the sheets of a particular stack are shorter in length than the usual paper length, a length compensating mechanism is provided. Referring, for instance, to FIG. 1A, it will be noted that stack 63 is shorter in length than the others. In order to bring the top margin 63a of the stack 63 upwardly to the required uniform location, a compensating, vertically movable tray is provided.

For ease in effecting such adjustment, the trays form a part of removable tray structures 91-96 disposed in each of the paper racks 51-56.

The tray structures 91-96 are frictionally positionable at any desired vertical position on the corresponding paper-supporting racks 51-56. Referring, for example, to tray 94 (see FIGS. 1A, 3 and 4) it can be seen that the sides 54a of the paper-supporting rack 54 are upturned to form a troughlike structure (see FIG. 4). Within the trough and gravitally supported thereon, there is loosely disposed a rigid rectangular sheet 5411 of relatively small gauge, the sheet substantially covering the entire bottom of the troughlike rack 54. The upper end of the sheet 54b extends somewhat (five-cighths inch for example) beyond the upper margin of the rack 54 itself.

Adjacent the bottom end portion of the sheet 54b, the lateral ends 540 of a transverse strip 54d are recurved around the lateral margins of the sheet 54b and snugly embrace said margins so that a snug frictional engagement between the members is afforded. The bottom edge of the transverse strip 54d is bent outwardly at right angles to form a tray bottom 54e, serving to support the superposed stack of paper.

Varying paper widths can also be handled. With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be noted that a pair of laterally movable slide members 54f is in frictional engagement with the tray bottom 54e. The slide members 54f each include a bottom 54g recurved at its outer end 54h so as frictionally to embrace a downwardly projecting flange 541' (see FIGS. 1A and 3) on the outer end of the tray bottom 54c. Each slide member also includes a side wall 54j serving as lateral boundary walls for the paper stacks lodged in the tray.

It can therefore be seen that by suitable manipulation of the upwardly and downwardly movable tray bottom 54e and lateral adjustment of the slide members 54f, paper of any reasonable length and any reasonable width can be handled.

In the collation operation, as was previously indicated, the individual topmost sheets in each stack are propelled upwardly from the stacks in a timed sequence, and thence are urged forwardly by engagement with the belt run 24 moving in a forward direction. At the end of the belt run 24, the papers are intercepted, as described above, by the plate 311 and are deflected, seriatim, downwardly in the direction of the arrow 35 into the catch bin 45 where they are stopped by the end wall of the bin and accumulate in collated condition.

It will be of course understood that if desired, the collated sheets could be transported away from the machine by substituting a suitable conveyor system for the catch bin. The collated sheets in this instance would customarily be led to a stitching or stapling machine. This substitution, being obvious to one skilled in the art, is neither described in further detail nor illustrated in the drawings.

With particular reference to the paper-engaging mechanism 84 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) it can be seen that a pair of strong, substantially vertical posts @4a is provided. On their lower ends the posts carry washers 84b disposed within a pair of corresponding U-shaped longitudinal channels 88, on opposite sides of the framework, the post washers 84b being adjustably clamped in the channels by appropriate fasteners, such as wing nuts 84c.

The two longitudinal, U-shaped-in-section channels 38 form the fore and aft components of a carriage 101 reciprocably translatable in a fore and aft direction. The carriage includes adjacent each end of a pair of transverse tubular members 102 connecting the fore and aft channels. To afford mobility to the carriage a pair of antifriction type wheels 103 on the ends of the cross members 102 run in a pair of fore and aft tracks 1114 supported on angle irons 106 carried by the framework 13 on each side thereof.

Reciprocating movement of the carriage is provided by an electrically driven propulsion unit 112 (see FIGS. 1A and 6) comprising an electric motor 113 with a combined switch and motor control unit 114 affording variable speed as well as onoff capabilites. The motor drives a speed reducer 116 which moves an endless chain 117 driving a sprocket 118 mounted on a transverse, interrupted shaft 119 journaled in bearings 121.

The central portion of the shaft 119 is interrupted by, or has inserted therein, a crank mechanism 123 including a pair of crank arms 124, a crank pin 125 journaled on the arms, a connecting rod 126 journaled at one end on the pin, and ajournal bearing 127 connecting the other end of the rod 126 to the transverse tubular member 102.

The throw of the crank arms 124 is such that in each cycle, the carriage 101 moves the appropriate distance in a fore and aft direction, carrying with it the paper-engaging members 81- 86.

Referring particularly to the paper-engaging member 84, the upper ends of the substantially vertical, adjustably tiltable pair of posts 84a are threaded as at 84d to receive a pair of nuts 84c clampingly engaging an interposed bracket 84f. The bracket extends forwardly and has pivotally mounted thereon an arm 843 for movement in a vertical plane.

As previously noted, there is a pair of posts 84a upstanding from opposite sides of the carriage. Accordingly, there are also two arms 84g pivotally mounted on the post brackets 84f. Between the upper ends 84h of the two arms 84g there is mounted a transverse pusher bar 841' having disposed thereon a pair of elongated sleeves 84 preferably of an elastomeric material affording a substantial coefficient of friction (see FIG. 6).

As reciprocation of the carriage occurs, the two vertical posts 84a partake of the same motion, carrying with them the two vertically swingable arms 84g, and the transverse pusher bar 84i carrying the long friction members 84j.

The movements of the paper-engaging friction members 84j are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8. In initial position, with the carriage 101 in rearmost location (as in FIG. 1A), the member 84] is well removed from the rear of the paper stack 64. However, as the carriage moves forwardly, i.e. in a lefthand direction in FIGS. 1A and 8, as indicated by the arrow 141, the member 84] reaches the paper-engaging location indicated by the numeral 142.

At this juncture, the topmost sheet of paper is frictionally engaged by the member 84j and as the carriage continues to move ahead, the member 84j starts up the face of the paper stack 64, frictionally urging the topmost sheet upwardly at the same time. Upward movement of the member 84] is indicated by the arrow 143 and upward movement of the topmost sheet of paper by the arrow 144 (see FIG. 8). It is to be noted that the upper margin of the topmost sheet, thus displaced, after moving but a short distance, first encounters the lower run 24 of the paper-propelling belt, being thereby bent toward the left, as in FIG. 8, and directed between the belt and the subjacent roller 40. At this juncture, the rapidly moving belt 24 quickly seizes control of the topmost sheet and rapidly impels it toward the left. The sheet skims over the top of the recurved top portion 73d of the lowered deflection plate 73, thence onwardly over the series of alternating rollers 40 and remaining top portions 72d and 71d until the deflector plate 30 (see FIG. 1B) directs the sheet downwardly into the catch bin 45. The topmost sheet of each stack is concurrently thus handled and is propelled forwardly in a partially overlapped and collated position.

Referring again to FIG. 8, it can be seen that at approximately the same instant the upper margin of the dislodged sheet is seized by the rapidly moving belt run 24, the paperengaging member 84j has reached the upper limit of its movement, as indicated by the reference numeral M6, the carriage 101 having at this juncture stopped and commenced to return to its base position.

As the carriage starts its return movement, the post 84 also moves rearwardly and, concurrently, the friction member 84j is carried rearwardly toward its base position adjacent the rearward paper rack 55.

It is to be noted that as the friction member 84j starts to move rearwardly away from the underlying paper (i.e. away from the new topmost sheet) it also tends to drop downwardly, by gravity, since the arms 84g are pivotally mounted on the brackets 84f for movement in a vertical plane. There is very little, if any, downward frictional force exerted on the underlying paper, however, since the carriage 101 accelerates rather quickly in a direction carrying the member 84 away from the paper.

Where, on the other hand, the carriage completes its cycle and again carries the paper-engaging member 84 into contact with the topmost sheet, the carriage is traveling at a considerable velocity. In the interests of smoothing and quieting the operation of the device, as well as compensating for different types of paper, mechanism 184 is provided for supporting the member 84] at various angles. Such mechanism includes a pair of rods 184a adjustably clamped by wing nuts 1840 (see FIG. 3) on the two U-shaped channels 88 on opposite sides of the carriage 101.

There are a pair of rods 184a for each pair of posts 84a and each such rod 184a is individually, selectively tiltable, clamping at the desired angle being effected by the corresponding wingnuts.

The top 184b of each of the rods is bifurcated, and the Y or yoke at the top of the rod serves as a rest, or support, for the corresponding arm 84 The yoke 184b serves also as a fulcrum so that by tilting the fulcrum rod 184a toward or away from the corresponding post 84a, the point at which the arm 84g is supported can be varied. So also, as can be seen, still other variations are possible by appropriately tilting the post 84a relative to the fulcrum rod 184a.

FIGS. 3 and 8, for example, illustrate various relative postures which are available to adapt the operation of the machine to handle papers of a wide variety of kinds, sizes, textures and characteristics.

For relatively stiff sheets, or for paper stock of considerable weight, best operation is attained by setting the arms, for example, the arms g (see FIG. 3), at a relatively low angle so that as the carriage moves ahead, the friction member 85j very firmly encounters the corresponding topmost sheet of paper, the slight upward angle of the arms 85g afiording a vertical impact component tending to dislodge the topmost sheet so that as the paper-engaging member 85j moves up the face of the incline, only a single sheet, i.e. the topmost one, is pushed ahead of it.

For somewhat thinner paper stock, an intermediate arm setting is desirable, for example that illustrated in FIG. 3 and designated by the reference numeral 863. In this case, the initial impart against the stack is at greater departure from the more perpendicular angle of the previously described arm 85j.

For very thin stock, such as onion skin paper, for example, the arm is arranged so that it is at quite a steep angle as is the arm 84g. In this case, initial impact is fairly slight although a very substantial vertical lift, or vertical dislodging, component is afforded. The frictional force exerted on the topmost sheet is quite small since the arm 84g is very readily lifted out of its seat (the Y-shaped fulcrum 184b) as the friction member 84j comes into contact with the paper and starts to urge the sheet upwardly through the predetermined distance.

For many collating jobs, the fulcrum rods (see FIG. 3) could be clamped permanently in the upright attitude of the rods 185a and 186a, for example, in which case only the posts 85a and 860 would need adjusting by tilting them in such a manner as to position the paper-engaging elements properly. In other cases, the fulcrum rod would also be tilted as in 1840.

In order to assist the operator in setting the posts to the proper position, indicia 161 (see FIGS. 3 and 9) are provided adjacent the wingnut serving to clamp the post at a desired angle. For example, a left hand inclined line is designated by the letter S" and indicates a soft setting, or a setting for soft, thin paper whereas the right inclined hand line is designated by the letter H" and refers to a hard setting, or a setting for hard, stiff paper stock. An intermediate vertical line, unmarked, serves to indicate medium weight or for paper of average characteristics. By loosening the wingnut 850, for example, and inclining the post 85a until it is substantially colinear with the H" line, followed by tightening the wingnut 850, the post 85a will assume the angle shown in FIG. 3 and the arm 85g will automatically take the low angle shown, which is appropriate for stiff, heavy paper, such as a front or back cover sheet of a publication.

As a matter of interest, it will be noted, with especial attention to FIG. 5, that when the paper trays have been substantially emptied of their contents, the cross rod 861' will commence to ride on the tops of the rack lips 56a before the friction member 86 engages the subjacent tray 56b. By so pro tecting the friction member, its efficiency and life is greatly increased.

It can therefore be seen that l have invented a combined paper assembling and collating apparatus which can readily be interchanged to afford either desired mode of operation, and which is of unusual flexibility in that the paper handling components can be adjusted with facility to meet the demands of a wide variety of paper stock sizes, textures, compositions and weights.

I claim:

I. A collating machine comprising:

a. an elongated framework extending from a forward end to an after end and including a top, a bottom and a pair of sides;

b. a plurality of transverse, parallel, paper-supporting racks carried by said framework, said racks being inclined in a forward and upward direction;

c. a plurality of paper-engaging members each transversely oriented and located to the rear of a corresponding one of said racks, each member being movable from a first position removed from a stack of paper sheets supported on said corresponding one of said racks, to a second position in engagement with the topmost sheet of said stack, to a third position a predetermined distance in said forward and upward direction from said second position, said member being effective to move said topmost sheet in said forward and upward direction through said predetermined distance;

d. reciprocating means carried by said framework for cyclically moving said paper-engaging members between said first, second and third positions;

e. an endless belt movably mounted on said top of said framework, said belt including a longitudinally oriented lower run in close juxtaposition to the upper'ends of said paper-supporting racks for frictionally engaging and longitudinally propelling a sheet of paper in contact with said belt;

f. means for selectively moving said lower run of said belt toward said forward end of said framework or toward said after end thereof; and,

g. conveyor means connecting a reproduction apparatus to a location adjacent said forward end of said framework in close proximity to the forward end of said lower run of said belt, said conveyor means being effective to transport paper sheets emerging from the reproduction apparatus into engagement with said lower run of said belt; and wherein said belt moving means is driven in a direction such as to propel the sheets toward said after end of said framework.

2. A machine as in claim 1 further including adjustable means on said framework for selectively deflecting the sheets propelled by said belt toward said after end of said framework, said deflecting means being capable of directing the sheets downwardly and rearwardly away from said belt and onto a predetermined one of said paper-supporting racks.

3. A machine as in claim 2 wherein said paper-deflecting means includes a plurality of transverse plates, each pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end of said framework and extending along said upper end of a corresponding after one of said paper-supporting racks, each of said plates including a forward projection; and means for selectively positioning said plates in either of two attitudes, a first attitude wherein said projection is substantially parallel and in close juxtaposition to said lower run of said belt and effective to support sheets of paper propelled thereby, and a second attitude wherein said projection is inclined forwardly and upwardly and is effective to intercept sheets of paper propelled by said belt in a rearward direction and to deflect the intercepted sheets downwardly onto a subjacent forward one of said paper-supporting racks. 

1. A collating machine comprising: a. an elongated framework extending from a forward end to an after end and including a top, a bottom and a pair of sides; b. a plurality of transverse, parallel, paper-supporting racks carried by said framework, said racks being inclined in a forward and upward direction; c. a plurality of paper-engaging members each transversely oriented and located to the rear of a corresponding one of said racks, each member being movable from a first position removed from a stack of paper sheets supported on said corresponding one of said racks, to a second position in engagement with the topmost sheet of said stack, to a third position a predetermined distance in said forward and upward direction from said second position, said member being effective to move said topmost sheet in said forward and upward direction through said predetermined distance; d. reciprocating means carried by said framework for cyclically moving said paper-engaging members between said first, second and third positions; e. an endless belt movably mounted on said top of said framework, said belt including a longitudinally oriented lower run in close juxtaposition to the upper ends of said papersupporting racks for frictionally engaging and longitudinally propelling a sheet of paper in contact with said belt; f. means for selectively moving said lower run of said belt toward said forward end of said framework or toward said after end thereof; and, g. conveyor means connecting a reproduction apparatus to a location adjacent said forward end of said framework in close proximity to the forward end of said lower run of said belt, said conveyor means being effective to transport paper sheets emerging from the reproduction apparatus into engagement with said lower run of said belt; and wherein said belt moving means is driven in a direction such as to propel the sheets toward said after end of said framework.
 2. A machine as in claim 1 further including adjustable means on said framework for selectively deflecting the sheets propelled by said belt toward said after end of said framework, said deflecting means being capable of directing the sheets downwardly and rearwardly away from said belt and onto a predetermined one of said paper-supporting racks.
 3. A machine as in claim 2 wherein said paper-deflecting means includes a plurality of transverse plates, each pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end of said framework and extending along said upper end of a corresponding after one of said paper-supporting racks, each of said plates including a forward projection; and means for selectively positioning said plates in either of two attitudes, a first attitude wherein said projection is substantially parallel and in close juxtaposition to said lower run of said belt and effective to support sheets of paper propelled thereby, and a second attitude wherein said projection is inclined forwardly and upwardly and is effective to intercept sheets of paper propelled by said belt in a rearward direction and to deflect the intercepted sheets downwardly onto a subjacent forward one of said paper-supporting racks. 